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It's too bad the Ducks got roped into this same bad deal as the Blazers. I'm sure they were sold a bill of goods, but were never promised anything in writing. I just hope they didn't sign a 10-year deal like the Blazers did. At least KOIN is finally in HD, so there’s always hope…

Although I'm not a Duck fan (GO BEAVS), I am a Blazer fan, and I'm not sure anyone "got roped into the same bad deal". I would assume that CSN-NW said "Here's a bunch of money so we can put your games on our channel." They didn't say anything about number of viewers.The Ducks and the Blazers went to FSN-NW and said "look at all this money, can you beat it?" FSN-NW said "No."

And the rest is history, the fans are getting screwed and the teams are getting paid. Yes, it was probably a little short sighted on the Ducks and Blazers to assume that by getting all this money from CSN-NW that they would also get a large audience.

CSN-NW is probably bleeding money, thats why they have such crappy shows on now, they are trying to stay afloat until the Blazer and Duck seasons where they might make some Advertising dollars back.

Considering the crap that comcast pulls in Philly with it's sports channel to lock down that market I'm pretty sure Comcast is the biggest offender in this situation. DirecTV is stuck either paying a lot for a channel that probably doesn't warrant it and I'm sure the ducks and blazers where fed a story.

Which is one reason the mtn took so long to get on directv. Once cbs took over the process a deal happened. The fact is if the blazers want it on satellite, they will have to tell comcast to stop trying to make a deal for them and do it themselves. Comcast almost always wants way more than what a channel is worth. They want espn type money for a channel that is not worth more than the fox soccer channel or other like channels.

"• Last season, Trail Blazer home games were shown only on Comcast sports cable network; those not hooked up to Comcast were unable to get the games. Portland president Larry Miller said the Blazers “are doing what we can to prevent that from happening again,” trying to help Comcast make a deal with other cable and satellite providers.

“I’m optimistic, much more so than I was three of four weeks ago,” Miller said."

Let's hope that means good things are ahead. But I'll still be surprised if we see this channel at all this season. And ajc68, remember that people outside of Oregon can get ESPN Gameplan and see all of the OSN Duck games on that. But in Oregon, we will be blacked out. So someone basically anywhere else in the country can follow the Ducks better than someone in Oregon.

And ajc68, remember that people outside of Oregon can get ESPN Gameplan and see all of the OSN Duck games on that. But in Oregon, we will be blacked out. So someone basically anywhere else in the country can follow the Ducks better than someone in Oregon.

I know, my family is in Oregon, but I'm in Los Angeles. I can watch all the Blazers games and most, if not all, of the Ducks games with my sports subscriptions. It's really ridiculous that I can see more games than my family in Oregon.

I know, my family is in Oregon, but I'm in Los Angeles. I can watch all the Blazers games and most, if not all, of the Ducks games with my sports subscriptions. It's really ridiculous that I can see more games than my family in Oregon.

I know, my family is in Oregon, but I'm in Los Angeles. I can watch all the Blazers games and most, if not all, of the Ducks games with my sports subscriptions. It's really ridiculous that I can see more games than my family in Oregon.

So if you set up a slingbox, your family will be able to watch them, too.

This is exactly why I don't think CSN NW has any intention of being carried by the satellite providers anytime soon. If they did, they would lower their price to what everyone else pays. And I can't imagine a less attractive RSN for D* to carry as there's really no benefit to national viewers since the mid-sized region is split over two networks (FSN NW being the other, and they have a more attractive lineup... even with losing the Sonics). Besides, the only ones that can see the Blazers outside of the region have to subscribe to the NBA League Pass anyway. So that leaves the Ducks for the national audience. Are they really going to pay $2 per customer for that? It's blatantly obvious they have not intention of being carried by satellite at this time. We can only hope it’s sooner than later that they feel they’ve maxed out the number of people that will make the switch to Comcast Cable. I have a feeling that will be sometime mid-season at the earliest.

I here that.....BUT......Verizon FIOS worked out a deal with Comcast and carry CSNNW...........thus, it would appear that it isn't totally out of the picture for DTV to work something out too. Sure hope so. IF they do though I hope that DTV won't block coverage for those in the Portland area AND they are in HD - like on MOJO via Comcast.

I here that.....BUT......Verizon FIOS worked out a deal with Comcast and carry CSNNW...........thus, it would appear that it isn't totally out of the picture for DTV to work something out too. Sure hope so. IF they do though I hope that DTV won't block coverage for those in the Portland area AND they are in HD - like on MOJO via Comcast.

You have a good point, but as I understand it, FIOS is trying to break into the market over here so they made a decision to pay the high carriage fee so that they could have something to sell to their customers. For the most part DirecTV has a product that their customers already want.

I say high carriage fee but no one has been able to show what the fee Comcast is demanding of DirecTV, nor what Verizion paid, but speculation is that it is nearly that of the ESPN carriage rate, not a mid level RSN that DirecTV thinks it is.

DirecTV on the other hand is saying, we are not going to pay this price that Verizion was silly enough to pay, and DirecTV will Comcast will continue to beat an impasse.

Now unfortunately that leaves us, the viewers, in the dark because neither side will budge. Or at least they haven't budged yet.

So about once a month I write DirecTV, Comcast and the Blazers to see whats up. DirecTV doesn't comment on current negotiations, Comcast rarely replies, and the Blazers would say we are hoping a solution will come, but we already got paid.

This is what they get for signing a contract with the devil, so to speak. They new this coming in and now they are going to have to live with it. Att Cable services stand against action cable sports network was what opened the door for this to happen. Comcast wants to keep it nearly exclusive to try and get people to sign up with them instead of going to directv or dish network. The high price helps this happen for them.

You have a good point, but as I understand it, FIOS is trying to break into the market over here so they made a decision to pay the high carriage fee so that they could have something to sell to their customers. For the most part DirecTV has a product that their customers already want.

I say high carriage fee but no one has been able to show what the fee Comcast is demanding of DirecTV, nor what Verizion paid, but speculation is that it is nearly that of the ESPN carriage rate, not a mid level RSN that DirecTV thinks it is.

DirecTV on the other hand is saying, we are not going to pay this price that Verizion was silly enough to pay, and DirecTV will Comcast will continue to beat an impasse.

Now unfortunately that leaves us, the viewers, in the dark because neither side will budge. Or at least they haven't budged yet.

So about once a month I write DirecTV, Comcast and the Blazers to see whats up. DirecTV doesn't comment on current negotiations, Comcast rarely replies, and the Blazers would say we are hoping a solution will come, but we already got paid.

It sounds like FSN NW will be absorbed by CSN NW at some point much like FSN Bay Area was absorbed by CSN Bay Area. If a deal isn't struck before then, this move will probably solve the distribution problem. I'm not sure what the timeframe is on this happening. It could be a year or two, or next week. Who knows?

It sounds like FSN NW will be absorbed by CSN NW at some point much like FSN Bay Area was absorbed by CSN Bay Area. If a deal isn't struck before then, this move will probably solve the distribution problem. I'm not sure what the timeframe is on this happening. It could be a year or two, or next week. Who knows?

Where did that come from?

Not that I know squat, but I would think that FSN NW which is owned by Liberty and has the Mariners isn’t going anywhere.

The Fox Bay Area was a different situation. I believe Comcast actually always had owned the majority of the FOX Bay Area, and just renamed it.

So about once a month I write DirecTV, Comcast and the Blazers to see whats up. DirecTV doesn't comment on current negotiations, Comcast rarely replies, and the Blazers would say we are hoping a solution will come, but we already got paid.

So the OSN deal has just been announced and I bet there will be a lot of message board discussion. How can we best direct the noise to ears that matter?

Yep, so as expected, the OSN Duck games will all be on CSNNW only and anyone outside of the I-5 corridor won't be able to see the games even if they wanted to get Comcast because it's not available. I will get to see about 6 games this year...looks like I'll be listening to the radio a lot. Or driving over 50 miles to the sports bar.

Well, take this for what it's worth, but the word is the Blazers have taken over the rights negotiations and have been adamant they will have a deal in place before the season starts, probably the end of October at the latest. If that's the case, that would get the Ducks on satellite for the second half of football season and all of basketball season. Apparently, the Ducks entered into their new Comcast agreement with the understanding that a deal was going to get done with the satellite companies. Again, take it for what it’s worth, but everything is sounding much more positive than it did a month ago. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

My understanding is the parent company of Comcast SportsNet now is also the parent company of the FSN regionals.

That is incorrect.

Comcast is the parent company of the Comcast SportsNet channels, they also have a share in SportsNet New York and Sun Sports out of Florida.

Liberty Media owns many of the Fox Sports Net RSNs.

The independent RSNs are usually owned by the teams that are broadcast on them: NESN (Red Sox and Bruins) YES (Yankees and Nets (not sure if the Nets still have a stake)) SportsTime Ohio (Indians) MSG (Knicks) etc.

Comcast is the parent company of the Comcast SportsNet channels, they also have a share in SportsNet New York and Sun Sports out of Florida.

Liberty Media owns many of the Fox Sports Net RSNs.

The independent RSNs are usually owned by the teams that are broadcast on them: NESN (Red Sox and Bruins) YES (Yankees and Nets (not sure if the Nets still have a stake)) SportsTime Ohio (Indians) MSG (Knicks) etc.

Slight correction, Liberty Media owns 3 of the FSNs as part of the purchase of D* those are FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Northwest. The rest of the FSNs are still under the control of Fox Sports.

Dan Sholtis
"The Raiders will be back. I have unshakable confidence, the will to win, and I just know that the fire that burns brightest in this building is the will to win. And we will win. We will win."---Al Davis. Rest In Peace, Al

The independent RSNs are usually owned by the teams that are broadcast on them: NESN (Red Sox and Bruins) YES (Yankees and Nets (not sure if the Nets still have a stake)) SportsTime Ohio (Indians) MSG (Knicks) etc.

And this is the way it should be with all sports nets, the TEAMS should own the channels and provide them to any TV provider who wants them. Cable companys should not be allowed to own cable networks, its a conflict of interest and creates a monopoly. Just my opinion.

And this is the way it should be with all sports nets, the TEAMS should own the channels and provide them to any TV provider who wants them. Cable companys should not be allowed to own cable networks, its a conflict of interest and creates a monopoly. Just my opinion.

I see your point... But teams can force stations hands... Either give me this, or I'll start my own channels kind of things... and that includes carriage on multiple platforms... The Los Angles Angles of Anaheim just did that last summer, I believe it was. Owner wanted to start his own cable channel, and Fox figured out he wasn't bluffing, they said, ah what do you want, and he said, and they gave...

Also, not allowing cable companies to own channels wouldn't necessarily fix the issue.. ... There was a big fiasco in LA when Fox created Fox Sports West 2 many years ago... No one wanted to carry it, so Fox put the Dodgers there exclusively, and they *&^(*&^ a lot of people for a while when that station was not being carried. No one wanted to pick it up partly because of how much Fox was demanding for it... Also, they questioned the need for the second RSN for our area (yes it was needed as it turns out. There is still only ONE pro team in LA that has EVERY game available on TV in our market, and that's the Lakers (and we still don't have a pro football team!)) , and said they had no bandwidth for it (yet miraculously found it after they finally agreed to carry the channel, EVERYWHERE)... Any of that sound familiar?

Slight correction, Liberty Media owns 3 of the FSNs as part of the purchase of D* those are FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Northwest. The rest of the FSNs are still under the control of Fox Sports.